I disagree with this. I see a form of this routinely, but feel it is simply justification for not fighting the war, while thinking this battle can be won. If you think smoking politics is lost in court of public opinion, and can't be won, then I do not see how vaping can be won, except for some small scraps, which will be the EXACT SAME SCRAPS that smoking has, though (smoking is) arguably better in almost every way conceivable.
A prime example of the scraps I speak about is that no one is calling for a ban on smoking products. It's existence is not threatened on the planet. Yet, (some) vapers think that the existence of vaping products is threatened, and are doing what they can to prevent that threat. And yet, in doing so, there are factions within the vaping community that are clearly serving need for BV up on a silver platter. That is a sure way to ensure that vaping products survive an existential threat, but also will mean that the (legal) vaping market is, in reality, no different than the legal smoking market.
Quoting myself here cause I'd like to elaborate on the second paragraph and so fellow vapers can see just how much we are plausibly doing ANTZ work for ANTZ, but seemingly claiming it is "in the interest of all vapers."
The diacetyl (and acetoin) issues within the industry and labeling/full lab results are examples of situations where some vapers simply do not trust free market principles to address these items in a way a) that they are used to, and b) they they would like (for the entire industry to fall in line with). So, there is a call to eliminate certain ingredients from all supply and that labeling (by all vendors) and/or lab results provided by all vendors would be "reasonable" solutions that will benefit all consumers. The ONLY way to assure this happens is if there is a mandate in place on the open/legal market. And the only way, that I see, such a mandate taking shape is via regulation. If it were strictly self regulation, then a case could be made to keep those things as is, and let free market handle who stays in business and who struggles/folds. But because so many are not used to an under regulated market, like exists for vaping, then free market principles don't go far enough. IOW, the mandate needs to be enforced for those people to feel comfortable (read as illusion of safety).
FDA puts forth a proposal that, in their own words, is designed to whittle down the market to a few companies who the FDA can more readily do business with on the legal/open market. This will make enforcement of certain mandates far easier than if there are 10,000 companies which have various ways of interpreting the various mandates (so far that is 4 or 5 primary items and about 300 or so additional considerations).
What some vapers are telling the world (mostly other vapers, but also vape companies and possibly local, state and national politicians) is that industry needs outside intervention to ensure certain items are mandated. In so doing, I don't think these vapers have expressed intent to whittle down the existing market, though there are statements by some that have implied this. Yet, the intent is there even if it is not expressed, simply by the notion that the industry needs system wide intervention. This is priming the industry to go with those that fall in line and those that do not deserve legitimate business due to their illegitimate practices.
IOW, some vapers really do want a group of Big Vapor companies to emerge, be successful, label products, assume quality/safety and provide a guarantee of sorts that vaping as an activity will be around for the foreseeable future. As if, that were in doubt.
What this clearly seems to neglect is, two things. First, that those Big Vapor companies will by despised by some. For sure ANTZ will take potshots at them forever and a day, and plausibly some vapers will hate on them at various times, because, well just look at today's market to see how vapers will actively hate on certain companies even while they have zero intention of buying their products. Thus, it could be even more whittled down, such that there are say 3 to 8 companies that provide all the products on the open/legal market and that have managed to navigate the FDA maze well enough to make a profit, plus managed to not upset a majority of vapers. Thus, no different than what exists for current cigarette market. And from this place (plus a whole lot along the way), it'll be easy to transform vaping culture into, well let's just say, those who already fully acknowledge that they are easy to manipulate and are deserving of the shaming that will inevitably come from being so loyal to companies that have clearly acknowledged that when things are done "wrong" consumers of the market are harmed.
Even while here in 2015, such harm is incredibly challenging to pinpoint.
Second thing that the Big Vapor path neglects is the underground market that will ensue, which will intentionally not cater to the illusions of safety and quality. How that market shakes out is perhaps impossible to predict, but that it will exist in a world where BV is accepted as legitimate way of doing business, is a certainty. Essentially, if anyone is DIY-ing in the years to come and those people (any of them) seek to help others with obtaining product in way they wish to produce, plus make a little money on the side, then the black market will be (wide) open for business. In essence, this will be a very good thing that is treated like a very horrible thing that it exists at all. Those poor poor vapers who aren't concerned with quality. Heaven help them. But keep in mind that kids won't be allowed to buy from the open/legal market (due to the most insane mandate of them all), and well, those who say they are all about protection, will have a hand in creating a situation, or market, that will challenge the perception(s) of protection every single day. A kid would be very wise to DIY and to provide friends with product, even while some hypocritical adults will frown upon this.
Once we are at the point where there are just a few scraps left and BV is in full control of the market (to the degree the government allows for), I'm sure newbie vapers then will wonder what it was like years ago when vaping started around 2015. I'm sure they'll be told that it was like the wild west and that people were being harmed all the time by unregulated products. And that now (or then), things are so much better that NJoy and Phillip Morris have merged to provide the best of what's around.
